Starting apparatus for internal-combustion engines.



APPLICATION FILED IULY25. IQII- RENEWED NOV-4.19I5.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

l/VVE/VTOR /////%V WITNESSES U ATTORNEYS W. F. CLARK.

STARTING APPARATUS FOR lNTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILEDOJULYZS. 1911. RENEWED NOV. 4. 1915.

LWJW. w Patented Dec. 26,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

AWOR/VEVS W. F. CLARK. STARTING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTIONENGINES.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

4 $IIEEI'S-SHEET 3'.

. Mil/H1703 //)//w// /"//(//A LQIQIIbQ.

ATTORNEYS W. F. CLARK.

STARTING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25. 1911. RENEWED Nov. 4.1915.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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ATTORNEYS WILLETT FLETCHER CLARK, OF FINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS.

STARTING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

Application filed July 25, 1911, Serial NO.'640,448. Renewed November 4,1915. Serial No. 59,699.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLETT F. CLARK, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Pine Bluff, in the county of J efl'erson and State ofArkansas, have invented a new and Improved Starting Apparatus forInternal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

My invention is an improved starting apparatus for internal-,combustionengines,

and it comprises a motor, preferably of the spring-actuated type, forgiving the initial impulse to the engine crank-shaft. Suitable clutchingmechanism is provided to connect the crank-shaft to the motor; and meansare included for automatically winding up the motor after the engine hascommenced running,.to put the spring under the required degree oftension, to set the engine again in operation after the next stop ismade.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which the same characters of referenceindicate-the same views.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view of my improvedstarting apparatus;'Fig. 2'is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the transmission mechanism throughwhich thepower of the motor is transmitted parts in all the to thecrank-shaft; Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the casing in which themotor spring is contained, the front cover being removed; Fig. 5 is afront elevation of the starting apparatus, the casing .being broken awayto show the mechanism for rewinding the t a movable clutch member 5.

spring; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the controllingl evers.'

On the drawlngs, 1 indicates the front end of an engine frame which ismounted upon suitable supports 2, which supports may be the framework ofan automobile or the floor beams of 'a power house or boat.

The engine 1 has a crank-shaft 3, provided with a squared end-4, on'whichis mounted This clutch member has an a'nnulaingroove'ti, whichreceives the forked end of an operating lever 7, pivotally mounted at 8and engaged by a spring 9 to hold it in such a position as to keeptheclutch member 5 out of engagement with a complementary clutch memberwhich is operated by the starting motor. The

clutch members 5 and 10 are of'course thrown together when it is desiredto set the engine in operation.

The starting apparatus comprises a main casing 11, in which is mountedto rotate a hollow sleeve 12, this sleeve being in alinement with thecrank-shaft 3. On the sleeve 12 and inside of the casing 11 is rigidlymounted a cylindrical head13, to which is connected one end of the motorspring 14, the other end of this spring being made fast to the innerwall of the casing 11. The inner end of the spring 14 and the head 13are preferably secured in rigid relation to the sleeve 12, by means of asingle bolt 16, as shown.

The rear wall 17 of the casing 11 has a central boss 18. projectingtherefrom, this boss surrounding the sleeve 12 and serving as a hub, onwhich is mounted a disk 19.

' The disk 19 has ratchet teeth on its circumference, and these ratchetteeth are engaged by a pawl 20, pivoted to the rear wall of the casing11, to engage the teeth and prevent the disk from moving in onedirection. The arrangement-of the ratchet teeth and the pawl 20 is suchthat the disk will be free to rotate clockwise, but cannot rotate theirengagement with the pinion -l2, with I a number of internal gear teethcarried on a flange disk 22. This disk 22 has a central hub 23, whichhub is preferably conical in shape and fits into a counterbore in theouter end of the sleeve 12. Both the sleeve 12 and t the disk 22 areloosely mounted on a central shaft 24:, which passes through the sleeve,as shown on Fig. l. r

On the outer cylindrical surface of the flan e of the disk 22"is anumber ofears or per orated lugs 25,1;arranged in -pairs.., Between eachpair of these lugs or ears is pivotally held a link 26, and to each pairof these links 26 is connected a friction shoe 27. These friction shoesare designed to engage the inner surface of a flange on a disk 28, thisdisk also being loosely mounted on the v shaft '24, and partly inclosingthe flange disk 22. \Vheii the flange disk 22 rotates in a slightlylonger than the amount of free space between their points of pivotalconnection with the disk 22, and the friction shoes 27,

when the same engage the flange of the disk 28, so that, when the disk28 isbeing turned by the disk 22, the links 27 will be turned to aslight extent forward of a radial line connectmg the center of the disk22 to the center of the pivot connecting each link to the disk 22. Thisrelation of the parts is shown by the vertical broken line on Fig. 3,and by virtue thereof the disk 22 will be enabled to rotate the disk 28clockwise, but not in the opposite direction; and when the disk 28begins to rotate faster thanthe disk 22, the

shoes 27 will not holdthe disk 28 back.

The disk 28 is secured by means of bolts or other suitable fastenings toa flange disk 29, terminating in a central hub on which is formed theclutch member 10. This central hub is loosely mounted upon the end ofthe shaft 24 abutting the crank-shaft 3, so that when motion istransmitted by the spring to the sleeve 12, and through the gearing tothe disks 22 and 28, the disk 29 will be rotated; and when the clutchmember 5 is in engagement with the clutch member 10, the crank-shaft3will be turned to start the 'enme. I g Between the end of the shaft 24on which the disk 29 is loosely mounted, and that portion on which thedisk 28 is loosely mounted, is a threaded section on' which is screwedthe hub31 of'a flange disk.30; This flange disk is inclosed between thedisks 28 and 29; and 32/ is a locking nut which secures the hub 31 intight relation on the shaft 24. The flange of this disk 30 is adapted tobe engaged by friction shoes 33, carried by links 34 mounted on journals' 35 on the inner face of the flange disk29. The hub 31 isreduced on its outer end; and on the reduced portion is fitted a loosering 36 having ears 37,

between which are secured springs 38. Each of th springs 38issecuredtoone ofthe shoes 33, andby tensioning these springs the amount ofcentrifugal force needed to throw out'the shoes into engagement withthefiange of the disk 30-, can be regulated. To secure this" regulation thering 36 is providedwith a paired? radially-projecting arms 39, the endsof which terminate adjacent arc- :shaped .slotsi40 in the. disk 29, andcarry bolts. 41,' which pass through these slots, so that the arms canbe turned to tension the springs 38, as desired. The outer ends of thebolts 41 will of course have locking nuts thereon toengage with the faceof the disk 29 and hold the arms 39. in any adjusted osition.

42 is a longitudinally-movable main operreroneo ating lever; and 43 is alever pivoted to the frame 2. This lever 43 has ears 43 adjacent oneend, and between'these ears is pivotally mounted a curved pawl 44. Thepawl 44 will engage the bent over end 47 of a catch 45, pivoted to thelever 42, to lift the same at the proper moment, this catch normallybeing held down by a spring 46, to engage the outer end of the lever 7,so that,

when the lever 42 is moved to the right, the

lever 7 will throw the clutch members 5 and 10 together. 44' is a springholding pawl 44 itself passes through the side of the casing 11, and issecured at inner end to the spring 14. Y The outer end of the lever 42carries a pawl 51 one arm of which extends upward.

to be engaged by the plate50', and the other arm of which is to operatea bell-crank lever 51, mounted on the outside of the casing 11, andconnected at its outer end to a sliding link52, mountedon the front faceof the casing 11. Atits lower end the sliding rod 52' carries across-piece 53, connected by chains arhcords 54 to a pair of lockingpawls' 55.

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with the teeth of a pinion. 57, which is rigidly secured to the frontend of'the sleeve 12. The pinion 57 meshes with a gear 58 mounted on ajournal 59 in the front of the casing 11, and made integral with anotherawls 55 are normally engaged by springs 56, to press them intoengagement gear 60, which engages a gear 61. This lastnamed gear ismounted on the squared front end of the shaft 24, so that, when thisshaft is rotated by the engine after starting, motion Wlll betransmitted therefrom-through the gear arrangement shown, to the sleeve12, to rewind the spring 14. A suitable. cover 62 is secured to thefront of the easing 11, to inclose the gears for rewinding the spring;and a suitable cover 63 is secured to the rear face to inclose the disks19, 22, 28 and 29, this last-named cover having a centralopening'through which the hub of the disk 29, on'which theclutch member10 is formed, passesl When the motor is wound up and ready for use, butnot connected with the shaft 3, the parts will occupy the position shownin Fig.1. The'pawl 44 will'he located to the left of the cateh 45, butonaccount of the fact that the spring 14 is wound up the rod 49 will bewithdrawn, so that the pawl'44 will roject slightly beyond the bent-overend 44 of the catch 45, and the plate 50 will be. located at a pointinward of the adjacent end of the pawl 51.

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to the left by means of a hand lever nor. pedal, and the catch 45 willthrow the lever pawl 44, which is normally located to the. left of thecatch 45. The bell-crank 51' will be operated to throw the pawls 55 outof engagement with the gear 57 and release the spring 14. This springwill, now rotate the sleeve 12 in a counter-clockwise direction, viewingthe apparatus from the front, and as a result the disk 22 will berotated in a clockwise direction through the gears 21, the disk 19 beingheld by the pawl 20-against movement at this stage of the operation. Assoon as the disk 22 moves at a s'uflicient speed the friction shoes 2?will fly outward into engagement with the inner surfaceof the flange onthe disk 28. v tion will betransmittd through the disks 28, 29 and theclutch members 10 and 5, to

the shaft 3, setting the engine inmotion.

' The unwinding of the spring 14in the course of the operation ofstarting moves the sliding rod 49 outward, rotating the lever 43 dire action through a slight angle,

pawl 44 now moves over the bent end "47,

.the spring 44' yielding, and the pawl ,when' it passes the end 47,snaps back under the in'fluence'of the spring 44, so as to be inposition to engage this 'end. The same move,-

mentof the rod 49 causes the plate "50 to' slip past the adjacent end ofthe pawl 5 1, parts in question in proper.

so as to put the position to allow the rewi'nding of the motor. When theengine has gotton under way, the force of the spring 14 being wholly orpartly expended, the disk '22 will of course tend to rotate slower, andthe disks ing the shaft 24 with it.

28 and 29 faster. As soon as the speed of' the engine reaches a certainpoint,'-the friction shoes 33 mounted on the disk 29-fiy out and engagethe flange of thedisk 30. These shoes 33 first stop the disk 30, whichis beingrotated contrary to the direction of roagement of the gears atthe frontend o the I sleeve 12. As soon as the shoes 33 come into 1solid engagement with'the flange on the disk 30, the disk 30 of'courserotates with and in the same direction as the disk 29, turn- The gear 61now rotates in a clockwise directiomand transmits motion through thegears and 58 to the gear 57, causing the sleeve 12 to turn in aclockwise direction, or, in other words, in

a direction opposite to that of the motion given to it by the spring 14.The result is that the spring 14 is re-Wound. The rewinding motion ofthe sleeve 12 will tend to rotate the gears 21 in such a way as toreverse the direction of revolution of the brake As a result,'mo-

to said rotary member,

shoes 27 and the disk 28 be too. great, the result will be simply thatthe gears 21' and the disk 19 will rotate bodily around the boss 18 as ahub, the pawl 20 being inoperative in this case. As as'the spring 14 iswound up to a sufiicient extent it will pull down the rod .49, movingthe lever 43; and

through the pawl 44 carried at theother end thereof, .the bent-over end47 will be operated to move the, catch 45 outward. This will releasethe. lever 7 whereupon the spring 9 will pull the clutch member 5 awayfrom the clutch 10. Also the rod 49 will trip the pawl 51 by means ofthe plate 50 to release the lever. throw the pawls the-gear 57, and lockthe=spring in woundup position for further use. The lever 42 The springs56 will then is of course moved back to the right 'when the startingmechanism is again needed."

, From theabove description it will be a parent that the motor isadapted to be connected to the engine'to start the same at any time, and

engine has commenced running, and doesnot interfere with the operationof the en gine in the main at all.

I wish it to be understood'that I may make such changes in the shape,size and arrangement of the parts, .as fairly fall within the scope andspirit of my invention.

described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersHaving thus Patent:

1. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprising amotor, a rotary member operated by said-motor, centhe ;mechanicalconnections between the motor and thei"engine-include transmissionmechanism rewinding the motor for start i to be made; Thestartingapparatus shoes 27; but if the friction between the 55 intoengagement with trifugallyroperated friction shoes connected H bermounted to have movement relative to the first rotary member, and meansfor connecting said second rotary member to'the crank-shaft of theengine, whereby, whenv the motor is thrown into operation, the frictionshoes thereof will transmit motion from the first member to the secondmember to rotate the crank-shaft. 1

- 2. Starting apparatus forinternalcom bustion engines, comprising amotor, a rotar member operated by said motor, centri ugally-actuatedfriction shoes mounted upon said rotary member, a second rotary member,and clutch means said second rotary member to the engine crank-shaft,whereby, when the motor is thrown into operation, the first member willa second rotarymemfor connecting transmit motion to the second memberthrough the friction shoes, to set the crankshaft into operation.

3. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprisingaspring motor,

, said motor in one direction, to rotate the tor spring, whereby, whenthe rewinding is engine crank-shaft, centrifugal means actuated by theengine crank-shaft when the latter speeds up to transmit motion to themotor spring to rewind the same, means ac- I tuated .by the motor springwhen the up-.

eration of rewinding is finished, to disengage the crank-shaft from themotor spring, and means for locking the spring when the rewinding isfinished.

5. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprising aspring motor, means for connecting the same to the crankshaft, saidmeans comprising a transmission mechanism for rotating the crank-shaftin one direction, a clutch for connecting said crank-shaft and saidmeans together, means mounted upon said first-named meansand actuated bycentrifugal force when the speed of the crank-shaft increases, to rewindthe motor spring, and means connected to the motor spring and actuatedthereby to throw out the clutch and disengage the crank-shaft from themotor when the re-- winding of the spring is finished.

6. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprising aspring motor, a clutch for connecting the same to the enginecrank-shaft,- a lever for actuating the clutch,'a rod for actuating saidlever, a second lever adjacent the said rod, a catch carried upon saidrod in position to be-engaged by one end of said second-named lever,said catch engaging the first lever to move the clutch into engagingposition, a connection between: the other end of the second-named leverand the motor spring, and means operated by the engine for rewinding themofinished, the lever adjacent the rod will operatethe catch todisengage the clutch lever,

to allow the clutch to be moved out of position.

7. Apparatus for starting internal combustion engines, comprising aspring motor, a shaft having a gear thereon operated by the motor, agear meshlng with said firstnamed gear, a member on which saidsecond-named gear is mounted, means engaging said second-named gear totransmit motion to the engine crank-shaft, and means for holding thesaid member against rotation when the engine is being started by themotor, said means also permitting said member to rotate when thefirst-named gear is being rotated in the opposite direction, to allowthe motor spring to be rewound.

8. Apparatus for starting internal combustion engines, comprising aspring motor, a gear operated thereby, a second gear meshing with thefirst-named gear, a rotatable member on which said second-named gear ismounted, means for transmitting motion from said second-named gear tothe engine crank-shaft, to rotate the same, means for holding saidmember against rotation when the motor is operating the engine, saidmeans permitting the member to rotate freely when the first-named gearis rotating in the opposite direction, and means operated by the engineto rewind the motor.

9. Apparatus for starting internal combustion engines, comprising aspringmotor, a hollow shaft operated thereby, transmission mechanism fortransmitting motion from the said hollow shaft to the engine in onedirection, said means permittingthe hollow shaft to rotate freely in theopposite direction, a shaft inside the hollow shaft and gear-connectedat one end to said hollow shaft, and centrifugal means actuated by theengine upon an increase inthe speed thereof,to transmit motion to saidsecond shaft, to rotate the same, to rewind the motor.

10. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprising amotor, a member operated by said motor, a second member mounted to havemovement relative to said first member, means actuated by cenond memberto the crank shaft of the engine, whereby, when the motor is thrown intooperationgthe crank shaft will be rotated. Q

11. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprising amotor, a member operated thereby, a second member mounted to havemovement relative to the first member, means actuated by centrifugalforce for connecting said members together to cause the motion of thefirst member to be transmitted to the second member, and clutchimeansfor connecting said second memberto the engine crank shaft, whereby,when the motor is operated, the crank shaft will be turned to start theengine.

12. A starting apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprising amotor provided with a motor spring, means connecting' said motor to theengine crank shaft to rotate said shaft, rewinding mechanism operated bythe engine shaft after the engine has been started, for the purpose ofrewinding said motor a rod radially connected with said spring andmovableby tensionof said spring in the general div rection of the lengthof said rod, and mechanism connected with said rod and controllable bymeans thereof for disconnecting saidrewinding mechanism from saidcrankshaft.

13. Startingapparatus for internal com bustion engines, comprising aspring motor, means connecting said motor to the crank shaft of theengine to startthe same, said means including a clutch, means operatedby said crank shaft to rewind the spring after the engine has beenstarted, and means connected to said clutch and actuated by the tensionof the motor spring when the operation of rewinding is substantiallyfinished; to cause the clutchto disengage the crank shaft of the enginefrom said otor.

14. Starting apparatus for internal combastion engines, comprising aspring motor, means for transmitting motion from said motor to thecrankshaft of the engine tostart the same, said means comprising aclutch, means for normally holding said 'clutch in inoperative position,means for moving said clutch out of inoperative position to connect theengine crank shaft to the motor, means operated by said engine crankshaftwhen so connected, to rewind themoe tor spring, and means actuatedby thetension of the motor spring when the opera.- tion of rewinding issubstantially finished,

to release the clutch and enable the same to be moved to disconnect themotor: and

the en ine. 4

i5. tarting apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprising aspring motor, means for transmitting motion, from said motortorotate'the crank shaft of the*en-- gineto start the same, saidmeanscomprising a clutch, means for normally holding said clutch ininoperative p0sit1on,means for moving said clutch against the force ofmeans to connect themotor i ative position vtoxdisconnect the inotor andthe engine.

16. starting apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprisin amotor pro-- vided with a spring, means or connecting said motor to anengine shaft for the purposes of rotating said engine shaft,- andmechanism including arod slidable in-the general direction" of its ownlength and connected With said spring for disconnecting said motor fromthe crank shaft after said crank shaft has been started to rotating andthe spring is rewound 'toa predetermined position. I

17. A .starting apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising amotorfprovided with a motor spring, mechanism forconnecting said motorto thiengine crank shaft in, order, to rotate the latter, rewindingmechanism operated by the engine-crank shaft after the engine has beenstarted for the purpose of rewinding the inotor, a rod slidably mountedin the general direction of its own length and connected with saidrewinding mechanism, for the purpose of throwing the same into and outof action,

said rod being connected with said spring and movable by tension of saidspring as said'spring is rewou'nd, and mechanism connecting said rodwith. said. rewinding mechanism, I

18. A starting apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprising amotor provided with a motor spring, means for connecting said motor tothe engine crank shaft in order to rotate the latter, a slidsliding rodbeing movable. in thegeneral direction of its own length under tensionof said-spring, a lever connected with said rod, means controllable atthe will of the operator for adjusting said lever relative to said rod,and mechanism connected with said lever forthe purpose of disconnectingsaid motor from said crank shaft after said crank shaft is set inmotion, and said spring is rewound toa predeteiuninedposition.

19. I A. starting apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprisinga motor provided with a motorspringmeans for con-i ing rod connectedwith said spring, said nectin saidmotor to the engine crank shaft in'orer torotatethe latter, a sliding rod connected with said spring andmovable undertension of said springin the general "directionofthe lengthof said sliding rod,

mechanism controllable bye-aid sliding rod for disconnecting said motorfrom said crank shaft after said ciank shaft is in mo-' tion and thespring is rewound. to a predetermined position, and means controllablerat at the willof the operator for adjusting,

the sensitiveness of said last mentioned mechanism relative tovthetension of said p -Z y 20. Starting apparatus for internal combustionengines, comprising a, spring motor,

a starting shaft operated by said motor,

clutch means for connectingthe said shaft to the crank shaft torotatethe same, a spring-held lever for controlling the clutch nezae ieemeans, means operated by the engine crank In testimony whereof I havesigned my shaft after the engine hes been started 30 name to thisspecification in the presence of 10 rewind the motor, and meansactuated. by two subscribing Witnesses.

thetension of the motor saring to release TV the lever when theoperation 01 rewinding WLL'LETT FLETCHER CLARK is finished, and causethe clutch means to be Witnesses:

disengaged so as to disconnect the crank W. F. HEARN shaft from themotor V, J, WEBeu

